The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-06-20
THE REBEL BATTLE FLAGS.
The State Press on the Late Order Of Cleveland
Recognizing the Confederate States" 4

Richmond Telegram Wherever it originated it
was an idea that deferred to rebel sensibiiities
rather than Union sensibilities and shows, even
though IL Is nov abandoned, into which section
or the Nation the administrations sympathies
moot freely run.
Plainfed Progress: If they must be removed
from sight. why not the flags destroy ed2
This act of humiliation the part of the Demo-
cratic administration is oven worse than the
haf-masting of rne stars and stripes on the gov
eminent buildings on the death Of Jake Thomp-.
son.
Lafaystte Courier. q. Cleveland who lives
mt the White House-we have forgotten the
number-has found out that the United States
10 larger than he is. Grover has been made a
TOOL of by men in his own party. He will have
to hustle for his second nomination. He will
not be his own successor by long shot. His
advisers are deceiving him.
Shelbyvills Republican: President Cleveland
has 'rung the backing belf' his order to sur
render the old rebel battle-fiags to the Southern
States. On maturer elaboration he concludes
that he had better go slow The country was
being heard from at an alarningly rapid rate
That man Cleveland knows how to tumble
when brick house falls on him.
Richmond Palladium: Grover Clevelands back
1own on the matter of sending the rebel flags
back to their former owners doesn't invalidate
anything we had written on the subject before
we heard of his action-conseq thy we let it
stand. The Presidents position IL now worse
than hefore-his defeat is complete and
humiliating. He would il. he could, but he
couldn't
HautG
OF the President that he did not give the matter
much thought, when it was proposed to him to
order the flags returned. And what confession
the plea Is! The Presidents sense of loyalty and
love of the Union cause was not aroused by the
suggestion. 1t was necessary for the whole
North to hit him with club to make him APP
precate the STATION.
Lafayette Call: The plain truth about it is that
this whole thing was a bit of miserable trucking
TO the ex-rebel sentiment Of the South, which
those Southern people who followed these capt
ured rebel flags their undoing will, If
their heads are level. spit upon and spnrn with
contempt equal to that of the loyal sentiment
of the Nation, which has been thus gratuitously
insulted and outraged.
Frankfort Banner: The President must be a
trfe dull of COMPREHENSION after his fishing
jaunt He claims hat the request to return the
rebel flags was ma 10 to him orally, and that he
did not fully understand it. He heard from the
people, and at once the enormfty of his bunder
struck him. He could understand the subject
then. President ought TO be able to distin-
guish between duty and disloyalty at a glance.
Kokomo Gazette-Tribune: The statement of
President Cleveland that the order to return
the confederate flags captured by the Union
soldiers was given without much thought will
not go any distance toward extenuating the
treachery of the Because the President had
no hand in the capture OF these same trophies is
evidence that those who did have cared
little for them to keep silent when traitors
hands were about to despoil them of their treas
ares, though IL to be done by order
Of the President"
Seymour Republican: Mr. CleveIand's action
In recalling his unnatural order may enable the
soldier element of the country, together with
patriotism everyw here, to think of him without
feelings of absolute oathing, but when it is re-
membered that it purely political
considerations and not patriotic impulses that
Induced him to retrace his steps, it will be
almost i'm possible for anyone to whom the inst-
buttons OF this country are dear TO refrain from
Baustic IL not very severe criticism of him when
aver his name is mentioned among men.
Madison Courier: The credit or discredit of
originating the scheme to return the rebel flags
Is variously attributed. Some say it was Drum
first thought of it, Others Endicott. others
Cleveland and still others that Brlgader Fitz
hugh Lee originally suggested IL to Cleveland.
it might have come from any of them, but En-
.dicott has recently put himself on record as
cold-heartej. unpatriotic, unfeeing snob and
has enveloped himself in atmosphere of hos
Utility TO the Union soldier that will cause loyal
people to believe anything mean of him.
Logansport Journal: Whatever the purpose
may be, the act itself is insult to every Union
soldier and every loyal man of the country 1t
is a high handed usurpation OF unlawful author
ity, base trucking to, the crimes OF treason and
rebellion which she exconfederates themselves
must despise. Ii ia act IN perfect accord with
the unpatriotic course of the man who, without
IN valid excuse. hired a substitute, and spent
hours of his valuable executive time studying
out coarse slurs upon broken-down Union sol
diers to give Zest and point to his messages We
toing their pension bills.
Warsaw Times: The outrageous order perpe-
trated by President Cleveland on the battle
SCARED soldiers of the Republic who still
scinded; but it must be understood that it has
been done in obedience to outraged public
sentiment, and not through motives of right
The restoration of the captured battle flags
would assuredly have been made had il not been
for the earnest protest of those who, through
fire and blood, not only captured the flags, but
demanded that they should remain the heritage
of the defenders of the Republic.
South Bend Tribune: If Cleveland thinks his
order to return the rebcl flags to the Southern
States will not make him sufficiently solid with
the solid South he ought to take a swing around
the circle, carrying the flags with him, and de-
same time make a speech, apologizng to the un-
reconstructed Southerners because the boys in
blue shot the flags full of holes sand then capt
ured them. OF course such n proceeding would
make the old Union soldier mad, but that will
not make much difference with Cleveland az he
does NOT expect them to vote for him.
Evansville Journal: Cleveland has again dis
played the animus which has actuated him all
through his administration in filing the most
important foreign and home Offices with ex-rebel
brigadiers in turning Union soldiers out of Office
and putting in ex-confederates in vetoing pen
sion bills by the hundred, with expressions of
contempt, vilifcation and ridicule OF disabled
Union veterans: in going fishing on Decoration
day. and Gaping the climax by this last out
raeeous order. He has excited feeling which
will not be allayed by his lame excuse and his
eowardly ck-down-a feeling that will endan-
ger his denomination and insure his defect be-
fore the people IL renominated.